Shaped pillow system

ABSTRACT

A pillow system including a support section an angled section and a neck support. The angled section is coupled with the support section. The neck support is coupled with the support section or the angled section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/721,642, entitled “SHAPED PILLOW”, filed Sep.29, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pillow system, and, moreparticularly, to a pillow system directed to the specific support of theneck.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pillows have long been used to comfort the body in various positions.Pillows have also been decorated and have taken on a decorative aspectin our culture. Commonly pillows are used to maintain a position of thebody by utilizing various pillows and positions under the shoulders,legs and head so as to properly position a portion of the body, such asthe spine, legs, arms or neck. Often it is difficult to maintain aposition with any degree of comfort for long time periods.

The modern lifestyle has caused many people to spend significant amountof time utilizing computers and video games. In addition, work pressurehas often caused the reduction of exercise time for many people.Conventionally, people walk or jog as a way of exercise. However, suchexercise can only train the body. As to relaxation, proper positioningof the body including the head and spine during sleeping is desirable.

Further, specific hairdos of individuals preclude the resting of thehead upon a pillow, which can alter or damage the hair design.

What is needed in the art is a flexible, comfortable, ergonomic pillowsystem to support the neck of an individual.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pillow system that supports the neck ofan individual.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a pillow system includinga support section an angled section and a neck support. The angledsection is coupled with the support section. The neck support is coupledwith the support section or the angled section.

Advantageously the present invention supports the neck, therebyprotecting a hair arrangement.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it is adjustable andcan be used to properly position the neck relative to the spine.

Yet still another advantage of the present invention is that heating orcooling can be applied to the neck by way of a temperature arranged packthat is inserted into a pocket of the pillow arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shaped pillow systemof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the shaped pillow system of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pillow of another embodiment of theshaped pillow system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the shaped pillow system of FIG.3; and

FIG. 5 is yet another perspective view of the shaped pillow system ofFIGS. 3 and 4.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown a shaped pillow system 10 including a support section 12,an angled section 14 and a neck support 16. Support section 12 isadjacent to angled section 14 and may be coupled therewith by way of adetachable system, such as a hoop and loop arrangement. Neck support 16is inserted into support section 12. Support section 12 may be U-shapedwith neck support 16 being inserted into the U-shaped portion of supportsection 12. Support section 12 has a channel 18, which can be understoodto be the inside surface of the U-shape. It is within channel 18 thatneck support 16 is positioned and held in place. Neck support 16includes a neck receiving portion 20 that has a specific shape along twoorthogonal vertical planes. When viewed in a vertical plane, whichtransects support section 12 through the U-shaped portion, neck support16 has a concave shape. When neck support 16 is viewed along anorthogonal vertical plane the shape of neck support 16 is convex innature.

A person that lays on angled section 14 has their shoulders elevatedabove the bed surface upon which shaped pillow system 10 rests. The neckis placed upon neck receiving portion 20 with most of the head beingcantilevered beyond neck support 16 so as to prevent significant contactof the hair with any of the bedding material.

Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 3-5, there is shown anotherembodiment of shaped pillow system 10 including another neck support 22having a rod-like shape with a receiving pocket 24 located along oneside of neck support 22. A packet 26 can be inserted into receivingpocket 24 in order to provide further ergonomic enhancements to the neckof an individual. Packet 26 may be a heat or cold retaining element,with packet 26 being heated or cooled prior to insertion into receivingpocket 24. Additionally, packet 26 may be chemically activated causingthe heating or cooling thereof. Packet 26 may additionally simply be aheat conduction material, such as a gel, which is utilized toredistribute heat from the neck of an individual. Still further, packet26 can include material having magnetic properties to thereby establisha magnetic field approximate to an individuals neck.

Neck support 22 additionally includes connection portions 28, which maybe in the form of hook and loop technology or other fastening techniquesin order to connect neck support 22 to other portions of shaped pillowsystem 10. Connection portions 28 may exist along certain hiddensurfaces of the various elements of shaped pillow system 10 to hold theportions or sections together as a unit. In addition to a first angledportion 30, which can be identical to angled section 14, there is anadditionally angled portion 32 placed thereon. Second angled portion 32is angled more sharply than first angled portion 30, thereby allowing avariation in the angular support of shaped pillow section systems 10.Another support section 34, which can also be referred to as anelevation section 34 is positioned beneath neck support 22, to therebyelevate neck support 22 when second angled portion 32 is utilized as apart of shaped pillow system 10.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, neck support 22 may be positioneddirectly on first angled portion 30 as yet another manner in whichshaped pillow system 10 can be utilized by connecting various portionsto provide proper support to the neck of an individual.

An individual that utilizes shaped pillow system 10 has their shoulderssupported by angled portion 14, 30 and/or 32 and the neck is placed uponneck support 16 or 22 with the upper part of the head being unsupportedby pillow system 10. This advantageously allows an individual to reduceor prevent disturbing of their hairdo while they sleep. Anotheradvantage of the present invention is that it may be utilized by anindividual having a medical condition that would preclude the head fromcontacting the bed, thereby reducing pressure on the head while the neckis supported. The individual's hair either doesn't touch the bed ortouches it in a minimal way so as to not significantly alter the hairstyle or place pressure upon the head of the individual.

Support section 12 may be made of a material that is of a firmer naturethan neck support 16 and angled portion 14. While support section 12 isfirmer than portion 14 and support 16, it can be made of a compressiblematerial, such as a foam rubber. Angled portion 14 and neck support 16may be of substantially similar materials that are more easilycompressed than support section 12. Neck receiving portion 20 may beshaped as illustrated and described above or have some other ergonomicshape. The neck of the individual is completely supported while the headremains substantially unsupported and cantilevered beyond neck support16. This orientation may cause the pharyngeal axis and the laryngealaxis to become substantially parallel and may aid a persons breathing.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design,the present invention can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

1. A pillow system, comprising: a support section; an angled sectioncoupled with said support section; and a neck support coupled with atleast one of said support section and said angled section.
 2. The pillowsystem of claim 1, wherein said support section has a U shape with saidneck support being coupled with said support section within said U. 3.The pillow system of claim 2, wherein said neck support has a concaveshape in a vertical plane.
 4. The pillow system of claim 3, wherein saidneck support has a convex shape in an other vertical plane, saidvertical plane being substantially orthogonal to said other verticalplane.
 5. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein said angled section iscoupled with said support section by way of a plurality of hook and loopconnections.
 6. The pillow system of claim 1, wherein said neck supportis positioned above said angled section.
 7. The pillow system of claim6, wherein said support section is positioned between said neck supportand said angled section.
 8. The pillow system of claim 7, wherein saidneck support is substantially rod shaped.
 9. The pillow system of claim8, wherein said neck support includes a receiving pocket.
 10. The pillowsystem of claim 9, further comprising an insert packet insertable intosaid receiving pocket.
 11. The pillow system of claim 10, wherein saidinsert packet is one of a heating packet, a cooling packet, a gel packetand a magnetic packet.
 12. The pillow system of claim 7, furthercomprising an other angled section positioned on said angled section andbeing adjacent to said neck support.
 13. A method of supporting a humanneck, comprising the steps of: positioning a support section adjacent toan angled section; and coupling a neck support with at least one of saidsupport section and said angled section.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein said support section has a U shape with said neck support beingcoupled with said support section within said U.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein said neck support has a concave shape in a first verticalplane and a convex shape in a second vertical plane, said first verticalplane being substantially orthogonal to said second vertical plane. 16.The method of claim 13, wherein said neck support is positioned abovesaid angled section.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said supportsection is positioned between said neck support and said angled section.18. The method of claim 17, wherein said neck support is substantiallyrod shaped and said neck support includes a receiving pocket.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising an insert packet insertable intosaid receiving pocket, said insert packet being one of a heating packet,a cooling packet, a gel packet and a magnetic packet.
 20. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising an other angled section positioned on saidangled section and being adjacent to said neck support.